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Sunday, May 22, 2011

We've had Netflix for a couple weeks (and we're loving it!). The movie I saw the other day really moved me. Love & Other Drugs was a really good movie.

In the film, Maggie (Anne Hathaway) and Jamie (Jake Gyllenhaal) have a relationship that evolves from all physical (with no attachment) to love. Maggie has early-onset Parkinson's, a disease without a cure. She doesn't want her disease to define her. I hate to spoil any part of such a great movie, but the following scene just broke me down (I tried relentlessly to find a good video of it to attach, but the best I have is the script).

Jamie: I'm full of s***, okay? No I'm... I'm *knowingly* full of s***. Because, uh... because uh, uh... I have... I have *never* cared about anybody or anything in my entire life. And the thing is, everybody just kind of accepted that. Like, "That's just Jamie." And then you!... Jesus. *You*. You. You didn't see me that way. I have never known anyone who actually believed that I was enough. Until I met you. And then you made me believe it, too. So, uh... unfortunately... I need you. And you need me.

Maggie: No I don't.

Jamie: Yes you do.

Maggie: No I don't.

Jamie: *Yes*, you do.

Maggie: Stop it, stop saying that.

Jamie: You need someone to take care of you.

Maggie: No, I don't!

Jamie: Everybody does.

Maggie: I'm gonna need you more than you need me.

Jamie: That's okay.

Maggie: [crying] No it's not! It isn't *fair*! I have places to go!

Jamie: You'll go there. I just may have to carry you.

Maggie: ...I can't ask you to do that.

Jamie: You didn't.

Maggie, in the end of that scene is how I feel so often... "I'm gonna need you more than you need me... It isn't *fair*!" I feel frustrated by the fact that I have an incurable illness. I hate that Jeremy needs to take care of me and help me so much. I don't think any of this is fair.

Luckily, Jamie's response to Maggie is how Jeremy is to me... "That's okay... You'll go there. I may just have to carry you... You didn't [ask me to carry you]." Jeremy has told me that he doesn't resent needing to take care of me. Jeremy and I were together long before my accident, so we're learning this disability-stuff together. I'm so blessed to have someone that loves me no matter what.

http://youtu.be/hU7TIWjPITo

“Sometimes the things you want the most don’t happen and what you least expect happens. I don’t know – you meet thousands of people and none of them really touch you. And then you meet that one person and your life is changed, forever.”

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